Electromagnetic clutch with lubricating means



S ep 1953 H. s. BEATTIE ELECTROMAGNETIC CLUTCH WITH LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Aug. 25, 1949 INVENTOR HMAM 6. BMW/f 9m 21/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1953 ELECTROMAGNETIC cLU mnwrrH LUBRIcA'rING "MEANS ghkeep'sie, tN. X xassignor siness lv lachines Corporatiojn New York, N. -Y.,. a'corporation of-New York A piili cation Aug-ust25, 1949; SerialNo. 112,255 1' Claim. (01. 192- -s'4) V v .21 ,This invention :relat'es "to improvements in :electromagnetic:clutches.

.:Electromagneticr clutches ha've, heretofore, heendevisedinvarious forms aret'principally "usedionstarting apurposes asra substitutelfor an ordinary "mechanical clutch. These -magnetic rclutches usuallysconsistofta clutch; member carsirying an annularslotf-withmwhich the magnetic w-indin'gis :placed. .Inielutcheszsoftthisclass the 'smagnetic field aproducedebyithe winding serves toeattractian:armature member carried :by the cotherzpartxor member :ofzitheclutch-forcibly to- 'ward'i'the drivenpart, and thefidriv'en part is :nan'sed'to iquicklysassnme rthezspeedarof the driviin'g "part, :due "to the :friction :p'ro'duced .by the magnetic'attraction. 7

:One feature of constructibn uof z-the present aelectromag neticrclutch' is,ziaccording:itot the: pres- -';ent invention;e-to arraingeItheibelt drivenor'pul'ley ::-member to be frotatable fiand -slidab1e on roller :bearings :arrangedon :-a eshaftJPan'dstQ rprovi'del'a :compre'ssion spring within said .pul'leymemberso what at one end it tactsifrictionallyt against and rotates with the fpulley member andsat the other =end; against a ballsbearing' 'which.isziarranged to "rollidly'over'itheishaft. "By this construction the driving member with its compressiomspring is conti'm 1a11y rotatable-without creatingianyfriction'al resistancean'd saidrspfing zrajctsxbyits "exp'an'sion to norm'ally 'sep'arate' the:driving"member i- Y from the driven membruntilsaid-magnetic coil is' energized to engagewthefclutch.

A still further feature :of construction, ac- "cordirfg to another phase :of a'the invention, is to' have the armature r'disk which fis rcarr-iedv by "the 'driving member frictionaly engage the :"periph eral rim-surface "of the idri'ven r'clutch -.:coi1 housing -.member-to therebyrStablish; when said magnetic coil is energized, a full andi, firm frictional contactisurface oversthe' -complete;periphraILsurface of therrimagainst the action of the compressionsspring. e.

Asti11further'feature of construction is to establish such frictional driving'contact while maintaining. clearance between the bobbin carryin'gthe magnetic coil:andi-the 'armature disk.

Another feature of construction :of a still: further phase of the invention is t'O' iPI'OVid'E aisimple and 1 effective iubricating: means whieh includes 'a greasecoatediball whieh rollsover and-deposits th'e lubi'icating"medium con :the :p'eripheral rim as their-mew contact"isbeing established' and to have the; drivingmemb'er recessed to provide :a' grea e reserveir wnich by centrifugal force, "Ieedsthe llfrbricatirigmfiiuni -toaihcle in the armature *d-iskfinwvhich the iaalhisxhttdgan dito havesaid lubricating medium emerge lthlQl-lgh an aperture Tin =aiiga'sket tozthel hole in'the: disk, 'which "gasket provides "the seal 'betweenir'theiffiace :of the pulley. member and the armaturediskasecuredw-thereto. Such i-form of lu'bricatingimeans 'hasxbeen found to KbeY. simple inrconstructiongeffective inaction, arrdieliminatesianysweariofrthe co'acting clutch surfacessanidthevsqhal-Whichfls sometimestpro'duced' whenthefclutchliss'engaiged.

Other ebj'ectsof the invention-Willbellpointed V out "in :the following deseripticmand claims'and illustrated in the "accompanying: drawingsymihich disclose, by way of example, the iprinc'iplei 'ofithe invention and the bestzm'ode, 'been "contemplated;ofrappiying that principle.

In said-drawings: V v "Fig. 1 is ia longitudinal'sectionalvievvuofiiene 'form of magnetic clutehiembodyingtheinvention.

Fig. '2- is an :endview ofithe clutchftakentonfthe Fig, 3 is' a transverse-sectional v iew taken ion the-1ine- 33 of'Figt l. 1 1.

The driving memb'er I'D of the OlliltC-h co'nstr ucted according to the present *inventieniccmprises a machined circular :pul le'y member H which continually an'd: fr'eely' revolve's about the driven shaft l2 =since the pulle'y menflo'er I 1 is fitted to revolve over='two: roller bearings .l3 and M which are arranged on the shaft F2.

The outer-races of :the-two roller bearings l3 and [4 are fi xedto the pulley "H 'by ar mature 'hol'ding screws' i'm. It' should be noted 'that each -of the'tv'vo sets of the rollers ofgthebearings 'l3 and M 'rollidly in annular grooves? n-theirl' inner races and insidethe'circumferential surfal'ie 'c'if the outer races 15 in order that {the pulley? 'I I may revolve'over the shaft 1'2 i'dly With l ittle frietibh andma'y 'also enable the pane y tegether with the outside races [5 to beendame-to the right er left over the rollers. I I

Neict to the-roller bearing' I'3I1SJQ hall'k'a'earihg [6 which act's-as athriistbearin'g famed p'res- I -sion jsjpring 25. -As'se bled next to the ba rbear- 2 "shaft 12 and to the-left--of-thefsleeve is; nether hall-bearing 19 Ball Bearing [9 Tits x -'frame 2'.) of the machine and is" heldin in said fra'me 2B by li'ear-iir'g retain-Ling sc "not-shown. At the'lft ofball bearme zeus'a collar 2 l- Whih se'c'urdby a 15in 22 ""136 the 'ririven shaft I2. lt' sho'uld b neted that-the 'inn'r race O f the b aring bals' against a =shou1der= 2'3 er thesh'a'ft l2 and -that th'e eollar l ke'eies the four bearings and the sleeve i:'8 in immovable position with respect to each other and in snug relationship against the shoulder 23 of the driven shaft l2, thereby preventing any endwise movement of the bearings. However, the pulley may, with the outer races l5 of bearings 13 and I4, move slightly to the left or right. The pulley [is shown in Fig. 1, as having been shifted to the left which separates it from the clutch coil housing H, in which position the outer race of the roller bearing |3 abuts the outer race of ball bearing |6 to thus function as a stop for the leftward movement of the pulley l| effected by compression spring means now to be-described.

The normal separation between the pulley H and the driven member H or clutch coil housing is accomplished by a compression coil spring 25 which fits in an annular slot of pulley II and bears at its left against the pulley cap plate 26 which is attached to one face of the pulley H by a plurality of fastening screws 2?. The right end of the compression spring 25 bears against a spring-bearing plate 28 which fits loosely over the outer race of the ball bearing I6, and which spring-bearing plate in turn bears against a fixed snap ring plate 29 fitting in a circular groove in the outer race of ball bearing l6. Since the ball bearing H3 is immovable on shaft I2 it is obvious that the compression spring 25 bearing against cap plate 26 will maintain the pulley H to the left, thus normally separating it from the driven member 11 of the clutch. The spring 25 will rotate with the pulley H but freely over the shaft l2 because of its bearing or thrust against the ball bearing I6.

Attached to the pulley H by means of a plurality of screws 3|! is an armature disk 3| which may be of the same diameter as the outer diameter of the pulley. Between the armature disk 3| and the roller bearing I4 is an annular clearance space 32 and is provided to permit the outer races l5, pulley H, and armature disk 3| to move as a unit axially of the shaft l2 and with respect to the inner races of bearings l3 and 14. A gasket 33 effects a seal between the surface of the pulley H and coacting surface of the disk 3|, except as will be noted hereinafter. This gasket 33 functions to prevent grease contained in the reservoir of the pulley H from escaping, except to a lubricant depositing means to be subsequently explained.

It was previously stated that pulley H is continually revolving and to this end it may be driven by any continually operating member and is preferably driven by means of a belt 35 fitting in a pulley groove 36 in the outer periphery of the pulley The lateral movement of the pulley for the clutch connection is so slight as not to affect the drive by the belt 35 and there will be no tendency for the belt to climb out of the pulley groove 36.

The idling clutch coil housing IT is machined to form an annular slot 38 which is defined by a hub section 39, an annular outer rim 43 and connecting plate 4|. It will be seen that in said annular slot 38 there is inserted a magnetic coil winding 42 carried by a bobbin 53 of insulating material which is similar to a spool which carries thread. A plurality of screws 45 pass through a commutator assembly plate 46 into the bobbin to securely hold the bobbin in the recess 38 of the clutch coil housing and also to hold the commutator assembly plate 46 in a fixed position. The clutch coil housing assembly is secured to the driven shaft l2 by a pin 41. The hub section 39 of the bobbin is arranged by dimensions to be 4 inside of the limits of the outer rim 40 of the housing to prevent the armature disk 3| from striking the hub section 39.

The commutator plate 46 carries insulatably mounted from each other an outer commutator ring plate 48 and an inner commutator ring plate 49. The wire terminals of the coil are identified by reference character 50 and by means of connecting plates 5| each wire terminal of the coil is connected to the respective inner or outer commutator ring plates 48 and 49. Of course, the commutator assembly plate 46 is fully insulated from the clutch coil housing H and also from the commutator ring plates 48 and 49 which, in turn, are'insulated from each other. This is also true of the connecting plates 5| so that as a result of this assembly the terminals of the magnetic coil are at the commutator ring plates 48 and 43. Contact is made to the commutator ring plates, and thus to the magnet coil 42, by carbon brushes (not shown) which continually bear against the commutator ring plates 48 and 49. By means of an outside circuit control the energizing circuit may be completed to the magnet coil 42 through the commutator ring assembly regardless of the position of the idling clutch coil housing. When this circuit is completed the magnet coil 42 is energized so that the hub section 39, as well as the rim or pole piece 40 being magnetized, will attract the armature disk 3|, moving the pulley assembly ill to the right so that the armature disk 3| will bear hard against the peripheral surface of the pole piece 40. When the armature disk 3| is hard against the pole piece 40 there is still a clearness 52 between the hub section 39 which keeps a steady pull on the armature disk 3| forcibly against the pole piece 46. Thus, when the magnet coil is energized the idling clutch armature disk 3| is attracted to the core of the magnet and frictional contact by the armature disk 3| is made only at the outside rim or pole piece 40 of the idling clutch housin but for the full circumference of the outer rim or pole piece 40. The magnetic force is sufficient to hold the armature disk 3| rigidly against the pole piece 4|] and not have slippage after full contact has been made.

Movement of the pulley housing H] to the right compresses the spring 25 but the magnetic effect of the clutch coil 42 is great enough to overcome the expansive effect of the compression spring 25 so that the clutch pulley is forcibly drawn against the idling clutch coil housing, as just described, in spite of the spring 25 and thus rotate shaft l2 as long as the magnet coil 42 is energized. When the coil is deenergized hub section 39, pole piece 40 and armature disk 3| will now be demagnetized, enabling the expansive force of the spring 25 to return the clutch pulley to its normal disengaged position.

While the above described construction is effective and efficient for the purposes, it is desirable to provide some form of lubrication between the armature disk 3| and the rim 4D to prevent surface wear and especially to prevent a squealing noise when the armature disk 3| moves against or rubs upon the rim 40. A preferred form of lubricating means will now be described.

The pulley H is formed with an annular slot or recess 55 which provides a grease reservoir into which a suitable lubricant is inserted. The recess 55 communicates with an opening 56 in which a pressure grease fitting 5! is provided. By the application of a grease gun to said fitting 51 grease is injected in the reservoir 55. Gasket 33 is a seal between the reservoir 55 and the clutch armature disk 3| but said gasket is provided with a circular hole 58 (see Fig. 3), the diameter of which is equal to the distance from the inner edge of the grease reservoir 55 to the outer edge of a hole 59 formed in the clutch disk armature 31. There is inserted in hole 59 two balls 60 which are held in position by the pulley surface not sealed by gasket 33 on one side and the rim 90 of the coil housing on the other side. It is obvious, therefore, that the circular hole 58 is a communicating port between the grease reservoir 55 and the hole 59. The gasket 33 otherwise provides an effective seal so that the lubricant can only flow by centrifugal force out of the reservoir 55 to the balls 60. The grease applied to the left ball 60 causes the right ball to project out of the hole 59 against the outer rim 40 of the idling clutch coil housing. The revolving of the pulley also causes the steel balls to revolve when the right ball 69 is in contact with the rim 40 of the coil housing and this in turn deposits grease on the outer rim. The constant and uniform lubrication of the coacting two surfaces prevents a squealing noise when they approach each other for engaging the clutch and also prevents wear of the frictional contacting surfaces. Although the contactin surfaces are lubricated the magnetic force of attraction between the pole piece 40, hub section 49 and the armature clutch disk 3| is sufiiciently strong to cause the pulley to be so firmly in contact with the clutch housing that both units will rotate as one. This in turn causes the pulley drive shaft 12 to turn with the pulley it until the magnet coil 42 is deenergized, at which time there will be a relative separation of the clutch elements and the pulley will now revolve idly with respect to shaft 12.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

An electromagnetic clutch comprising a continually driven armature member having a lubricating medium carrying reservoir, an armature disk carried by said armature member, a field member provided with an outer rim engageable with said armature disk upon a relative clutch engaging movement of one ofsaid members, said rim registering with a lubricating hole located at the periphery of the armature disk in such position as to receive the lubricating medium pro,- jected therein by centrifugal force, a, sealing gasket, means for securing said armature disk to said armature member with said sealing gasket between said armature disk and said armature member and in such position that an aperture in said gasket forms a lubricating passage between said reservoir and said lubricating hole, and at least one freely rotatable member in said lubricating hole receiving said lubricating medium thrown by centrifugal force from said res ervoir through said aperture and lubricating hole during the rotation of said armature member for depositing the lubricating medium over said rim .as the latter is engaged by said armature disk upon the relative clutch connecting movement of said members.

HORACE S. BEA'ITIE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 535,738 smith Mar. 12, 1895 686,960 Truitt Nov. 19, 1901 1,092,015 Bryant Mar. 31, 1914 1,139,005 Whitcomb May 11, 1915 1,169,937 Dikeman Feb. 1, 1916 1,268,777 Willis June 4, 1918 1,529,191 Kettering Mar. 10, 1925 1,800,879 Tessky Apr. 14, 1931 1,814,891 Bing July 14, 1931 2,288,274 Ewaldson June 30, 1942 2,430,174 Hoover Nov. 4, 1947 2,481,028 Lear Sept. 6, 1949 2,528,316 Mayo Oct. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,618 Great Britain Apr. 3, 1919 

